Extend your impact in three easy steps:

Get Inspired

Seek wisdom for your financial future.

Get a Will

Find the easiest ways to get an up-to-date will that reflects your personal values.

Have Peace

Tell your family about your future plans. Leave a lasting legacy!

STEP 1: GET INSPIRED

The following articles will help you and your family think through the importance of creating a Will that reflects your values:

  •  5 Best Ways to Plan for Your Family’s Future
  •  What Happens if I Die Without a Will?
  • Top 10 Reasons to Update Your Will

5 Best Ways to Plan for Your Family's Future

  1. Get a Will. When people start adding up the value of their home, life insurance, retirement accounts, and other property, they begin to see that even with a modest middle-class estate, a plan is needed that provides for their families and the organizations they love.                              
  2. Reduce (or eliminate) unnecessary taxes and court costs. A Will can help you reduce probate hassles and costs, avoid certain taxes, and decrease other administrative expenses – freeing up more resources to your heirs and charitable work.
  3. Decide who will manage your stuff after you die. Without a Will, a court decides how to distribute your estate. On the other hand, when you name your own representative in your Will, you decide who will distribute the money and things entrusted to you.
  4. Decide who will take care of your kids. If you have minor children, a Will allows you to name the guardian of your children and a Trustee of the assets to provide for the children. If a court is left to make these decisions for you, your personal values may be disregarded.                                                                              
  5. Include “charity” in your family. Your Will can be powerful a testimony to family and friends. Including your extended “family” in your Will – namely your favorite charities – is a wonderful way to express your values for generations to come.

Top 10 Reasons to Update Your Will

These 10 life events may signal it’s time for an up-to-date Will:

  1. Marriage or divorce
  2. New baby, adopted children, or stepchildren
  3. Moving to another state
  4. Changing your mind about heirs
  5. Major changes in property ownership or financial assets
  6. Changes in estate planning and estate tax law
  7. Death or disability of someone named in your will
  8. Children have reached the age of 18
  9. You would like to provide for a charitable organization
  10. It has been three years or more since you have reviewed your will

STEP 2: GET A WILL

One of the best ways to steward the resources entrusted to you is to have an up-to-date Will that reflects your personal values, provides for your loved ones, and honors the charities you care about. Below we’ve included some practical resources to help you begin your journey.

  • One of the best ways to steward the resources entrusted to you is to have an up-to-date Will that reflects your personal values, provides for your loved ones, and honors the charities you care about. Below we’ve included some practical resources to help you begin your journey.
  1. Get Help in Person

Save time and money by filling out our Wills Guide on your own before you see an attorney or estate planner.  

WILL GUIDE PDF LINK

  • How Do I Find a Lawyer?
  • Do I Need a Lawyer to Make a Will?
  • Including Charity in Your Will
  • Sample Bequest Language
  • Tax ID Number

 

How Do I Find a Lawyer?

If you decide to use a lawyer to create or update your Will – or review your Online Will – you’ll want to find an attorney who shares your values and is knowledgeable in estate planning.

There are three sources you can check for a referral to a trusted estate planning attorney:

  1. Christian Legal Society. You can go online for a referral from the Christian Legal Society, network of attorneys committed to fair and honest practice.
  1. Contact Us. You can contact our office for a referral.
  1. Your Financial Advisor. These individuals are connected to a wide network of people which may include an estate planning attorney.

 

Do I Need a Lawyer to Make Will?

No. There is no legal requirement that a Will be drawn up by a lawyer. Most people can use quality, fill-in-the-blank legal documents to take care of basic concerns such as leaving their property to loved ones and naming a guardian for young children. However, there are a number of situations where it would be highly recommended to work with a lawyer instead of an Online Will:

  • If you have significant assets
  • If you have a special needs, disabled, or dependent adult child
  • If you’ve been divorced or remarried
  • If you think one of your heirs might contest your Will
  • If you own a small business
  • If you are concerned about guardianship issues for minor children
  • If you’re raising grandchildren or stepchildren
  • If you or your spouse are citizens of another country
  • If you have questions about your Will or the online form doesn’t address your situation

Online Wills aren’t for everyone. In fact, even if you get an Online Will, we recommend that you consider getting it reviewed by an attorney for added peace of mind.

Including Charity Your Will

Here are the most common ways to significantly increase your charitable impact through your Will:

  • Add “Charity” to your family. Some families treat charitable organizations like an additional child. For example, if a family has three children, they might add a fourth child named “Charity” and divide the assets in their Will into four equal parts. Each of their children would receive 25%, and the remaining 25% would be divided among their favorite charitable organizations.
  • Tithe on your Estate. Other families commit a 10% contribution from their estate to the charitable organizations they love, dividing the remaining 90% among their heirs.
  • Cap. Others decide to “cap” their children’s inheritance, leaving the rest of their assets to charity. This approach is used when the parents want to provide a modest gift to bless their children and eliminate concerns of creating dependence or giving too much too soon.
  • Update an existing Will. An attorney can add, delete, or change an item in your Will with an additional statement called a “codicil.” Here’s an example: “I give, devise, and bequeath twenty- five percent (25%) of my residuary estate to [charity name] whose address is [city, state, zip code]. Like a Will, a codicil must be dated, signed, and witnessed.

 

Sample Bequest Language

Leaving a gift in your Will to a charity that you love is a great expression of your personal values, and it may be simpler than you think. If you would like to do this, consider including this language in your Estate Plan:

General Support.

If you want to support the overall mission of the charitable organizations meaningful to you, please use the following language: “I give _______ (% or dollar amount) of my estate to (Charity Name of City/State) for its general use.”

Specific Program.

If you want to support a specific program fund of the charitable organizations meaningful to you, use the following language: “I give ____ (% or dollar) of my estate to (Charity Name of City/State) for the (Name of the Project or Fund).”

Tax ID Number

Legal Name: Friendly Water for the World

Federal Tax ID Number: 27-2510007

Get Help Online

Most people can fill out an Online Will in less than an hour. Click below for links to some of the most popular Online Will sites.

GO ONLINE (link to Online Will Sites page)

Online Will Sites

Every Online Will creation website provides a slightly different user experience, but they all provide a simple way for you to provide for your loved ones and the charities you wish to support. Follow the links below to choose the right one for you.

Friendly Water for the World does not and will not engage in the practice of law. Therefore it is important that you seek an attorney directly or through one of the online services that we have listed for preparation of legal work. We cannot review your estate plan for legal accuracy. You must rely upon the legal advice that you receive from your attorney or online legal service.

How Do Online Wills Work?

Most Online Will sites guide you through a simple 3-step process:

  1. Answer Questions. You’ll be guided through a series of fill-in-the-blank questions about your wishes regarding your family, your property, who you want to oversee making sure your wishes are taken care of. The questionnaire is often provided at no charge, and most people can complete it within about 30 minutes.
  1. Review Answers. You’ll have an opportunity to review your own answers for completeness and accuracy. Some sites also provide online tools and “ask a lawyer” features to give you a more in-depth review.
  1. Finalize documents. The last step is to receive your documents online or in the mail. The Online Will site will also provide instructions for getting signatures to finalize your documents, as well as storage recommendations.

 

4 Advantages of Online Wills

Is an Online Will right for you? Below are four reasons people get an Online Will:

  1. Affordable. Let’s face it. When it comes to getting a Will, cost is a big concern for many people. A lawyer may charge you $500 for a basic Will (and a lot more if your estate is complicated). But most people can get an Online Will for less than $70.
  1. Easy. Online Will sites provide simple questionnaires that the average person can answer in about 30 minutes or less. With an attorney, you may have to schedule a couple of face-to face appointments to review your information and to finalize your documents.
  1. Quality. Do-it-yourself online legal documents have been accepted by court and government agencies in all 50 states. Some of the most popular Online Will sites were started by attorneys and offer high-quality, legally valid, state-specific Wills.
  2. Private. Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of discussing their financial and family information with a complete stranger. Although attorneys are required to keep your discussions confidential, many prefer the anonymity of fill-in-the-blank online forms.

 

Including Charity in Your Will

Here are the most common ways to significantly increase your charity impact through your Will:

  • Add “Charity” to your family. Some families treat charitable organizations like an additional child. For example, if a family has three children, they might add a fourth child named “Charity” and divide the assets in their Will into four equal parts. Each of their children would receive 25%, and the remaining 25% would be divided among their favorite charitable organizations.
  • Tithe on your Estate. Other families commit a 10% contribution from their estate to the ministry organizations they love, dividing the remaining 90% among their heirs.
  • Cap. Others decide to “cap” their children’s inheritance, leaving the rest of their assets to ministry. This approach is used when the parents want to provide a modest gift to bless their children and eliminate concerns of creating dependence or giving too much too soon.
  • Update an existing Will. An attorney can add, delete, or change an item in your Will with an additional statement called a “codicil.” Here’s an example: “I give, devise, and bequeath twenty- five percent (25%) of my residuary estate to [charitable organization] whose address is [city, state, zip code]. Like a Will, a codicil must be dated, signed, and witnessed.
 

Sample Bequest Language

Leaving a gift in your Will to a charity you love is a great expression of your personal values, and it may be simpler than you think. If you would like to do this, consider including this language in your Estate Plans:

General Support.

If you want to support the overall mission of the charitable organizations dear to your heart, please use the following language: “I give _______ (% or dollar amount) of my estate to (Charity Name of City/State) for its general use.”

Specific Program.

If you want to support a specific program fund of the charitable organizations dear to your heart, use the following language: “I give ____ (% or dollar) of my estate to (Charity Name of City/State) for the (Name of the Project or Fund).”

Legal Name & Federal Tax ID Number

Legal Name: Friendly Water for the World

Federal Tax ID Number: 27-2510007

Next step button

STEP 3: HAVE PEACE

Use the links below to extend the legacy of your Will to you, your family, and the charities you love.

  • An Ethical Will
  • Ethical Will Worksheet
  • Sample Legacy Love Letter
  • Setting Up Your Legacy File
  • Notice of Bequest Letter

Text Box: CONTACT US (link to Contact Us page)

An Ethical Will is Not Transactional — It’s Meaningful

An ethical Will (or Legacy Love Letter) is a personal document you create to communicate your values, experiences, life lessons, and family heritage to your family. Unlike a legal Will which focuses on passing along your physical assets, property, and items of monetary value, an ethical one serves to share guiding principles, memories, spiritual values, family objects with personal (but not necessarily monetary) value, and future wishes for your family.

Writing a Legacy Love Letter

Because a Legacy Love Letter is not a legal document and is not made for the purpose of distributing assets; the content and form of your letter is up to you. Here are four themes you may wish to cover in your Legacy Love Letter:

Beliefs and Values. What do you believe about God? What are your guiding principles when it comes to marriage, raising children, serving others, handling money, etc.?

Life Lessons. What were some of the defining moments of your life, and what did you learn from them? What experiences and people are you most grateful for? Think of significant events, moments, and experiences in your life. What would you like them to know about your hopes for their futures?

Personal Feelings. How can you communicate love to them? In other words, how have they impacted your life in a positive way? Is there anyone you owe an apology or confession you’ve never been able to communicate? An ethical Will can be a powerful place to share these feelings.

Message of Hope. What are some of the most meaningful poems, stories, or passages of religious literature o you? What message of hope and encouragement do you wish to leave to your family and friends?

Ethical Will Worksheet

For help in creating an Ethical Will, download our free worksheet (see Informational Brochures in SharePoint)